Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Colchester

99 Pages·2008·9.6 MB·English

Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and
Norman Colchester
Colchester Archaeological Reports
General Editor: Philip Crummy
Published by the Colchester Archaeological Trust Ltd
Report 1: Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Colchester
by Philip Crummy (CBA Research Report 39), 1981
ISBN 0 906780 06 3
Published 1981 jointly by the Colchester Archaeological Trust and the Council for British Archaeology,
112 Kennington Road, London SE11 6RE
Reprinted 1995 by the Colchester Archaeological Trust
Report 2: The Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester, 1971-9
by Nina Crummy, 1983, reprinted 1995
ISBN 0 9503727 3 0
Report 3: Excavations at Lion Walk, Balkerne Lane, and Middleborough, Colchester, Essex
by Philip Crummy, 1984
ISBN 0 9503727 4 9
Report 4: The coins from excavations in Colchester, 1971-9
by Nina Crummy (ed), 1987
ISBN 0 9503727 6 5
Report 5: The post-Roman small finds from excavations in Colchester, 1971-85
by Nina Crummy, 1988
ISBN 0 9503727 7 3
Report 6: Excavations at Culver Street, the Gilberd School, and miscellaneous sites in Colchester, 1971-85
by Philip Crummy, 1992
ISBN 0 9503727 9 X
Report 7: Post-Roman pottery from excavations in Colchester, 1971-85
by John Cotter
forthcoming
Report 8: Roman vessel glass from excavations in Colchester, 1971-85
by H E M Cool and Jennifer Price, 1995
ISBN 0 897719 02 7
Report 9: Excavations of Roman and later cemeteries, churches and monastic sites in Colchester, 1971-88
by Nina Crummy, Philip Crummy, and Carl Crossan, 1993
ISBN 0 897719 01 9
Report 10: Roman pottery from excavations in Colchester 1971-85
by R P Symonds and S Wade (eds P Bidwell and A Croom)
forthcoming
Report 11: Camulodunum 2
by C F C Hawkes and Philip Crummy,
1995
ISBN 0 897719 03 5
Report 12: Animal bone from excavations in Colchester, 1971-85
by Rosemary Luff, 1993
ISBN 0 897719 00 0
Colchester Archaeological Report 1
CBA Research Report 39
Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and
Norman Colchester
by Philip Crummy
with contributions from
Nina Crummy, Tania M Dickinson,
Vera I Evison, Patricia Galloway,
D E Greenway, Margaret Guido,
Sonia C Hawkes, S E Rigold,
D Stephenson, D M Wilson,
and G Zarnecki
1981
The Council for British Archaeology
© 1981 Colchester Archaeological Trust,
Department of the Environment, and Council for British Archaeology
ISBN 0 906780 06 3
Published 1981 by
Council for British Archaeology
112 Kennington Road
London SE11 6RE
The CBA acknowledges with gratitude the grant from the
Department of the Environment towards the publication
of this report.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Crummy, Philip
Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Colchester.—
(CBA Research Reports, ISSN 0589-9036; no 39)
1. Colchester, Essex—Antiquities
I. Title
942.6*723 DA696
Reprinted 1995 by the Colchester Archaeological Trust (with a few additional footnotes).
The Colchester Archaeological Trust acknowledges with thanks the grant from English Heritage
towards the reprinting of this volume.
Printed by Witley Press Ltd., Hunstanton, Norfolk
Contents
PAGE
Illustrations vi
Introduction and acknowledgments vii
Chapter 1 The archaeological evidence: 5th to 9th centuries 1
Chapter 2 Some written evidence 24
Chapter 3 The ceramic evidence: 10th to 12th centuries 32
Chapter 4 Excavations in the grounds of St John's Abbey 40
Chapter 5 Topographical evidence 46
Chapter 6 Stone houses in Colchester 53
Chapter 7 Colchester from the 5th to the 12th century: general discussion and summary 70
Appendix 1 Origins of personal names of burgesses in Colchester Domesday and of moneyers operating in
Colchester during the period 979-1087 by Nina Crummy 75
Appendix 2 Bronze mount from the castle bailey 78
Appendix 3 Earliest known references to present streets in Colchester town centre by Nina Crummy 79
Appendix 4 Notes on Colchester keep 80
Appendix 5 Notes on the borough seals of Colchester 82
Appendix 6 Descriptions of illustrated pottery and other clay objects 84
Bibliography 87
Index 90
v
Illustrations
1 Street map of Colchester (1971)
2 Colchester: 5th to 9th centuries
3 Hut 1, Lion Walk
4 Hut 1, Lion Walk
5 Finds from Lion Walk
6 Hut 2, Lion Walk
7 Finds from 18 North Hill (after Hull 1958, 79)
8 Late Roman propeller-shaped mount and bone comb from the site of the Cups Hotel
9 Saucer brooch from Luckin-Smith's, Head Street
10 Two loomweights from Shippey's, Head Street
11 Two brooches from the site of the Union House
12 Brooch from the Union House
13 Finds from the Guildford Road estate
14 Objects found in the Butt Road sand-pits (after Wire)
15 Belt-fittings from Butt Road
16 Iron spearheads and shield bosses from Mersea Road
17 Pot from Meanee Barracks, Mersea Road
18 Finds believed to be from the Mersea Road cemetery
19 Beads believed to be from the Mersea Road cemetery
20 Anglo-Saxon objects in the Joslin Collection
21 Two grass-tempered sherds
22 Iron sword blades from the river Colne
23 'Sceatta' found in Colchester before 1903
24 Two iron spearheads and a shield boss from Colchester
25 A spearhead from Colchester
26 A strap-end from Colchester
27 A wheel-turned pot from Old Heath, Colchester
28 Derivation of the 'Gough' and 'Nero' accounts of the foundation of St John's Abbey
29 Colchester, finds of Thetford-type ware
30 Cups Hotel site 1973-4: late Anglo-Saxon and Norman pits (largest features only)
31 Lion Walk defences: provisional interpretation
32 Saxo-Norman pottery nos 1-30
33 Saxo-Norman pottery nos 31-71
34 Saxo-Norman pottery nos 72-102
35 Saxo-Norman pottery nos 103-14
36 Excavations in the grounds of St John's Abbey
37 Foundations of St John's Church and later medieval burial ground
38 Foundations of St John's Church in section
39 Foundation of ?tower of St John's Church
40 Colchester in relation to river Colne, the Hythe, and Old Heath
41 Reused Roman buildings and evidence of continuity of boundaries
42 Medieval property boundaries in relation to the Roman town
43 Colchester's town centre: evidence of town planning
44 Colchester: parish boundaries, churches, stone houses, bastions, and sections across town ditches
45 Lion Walk stone house
46 The northern wall of the Norman hall at Lion Walk, looking north
47 Ground plan and elevations of the Foundry Yard stone house (after an original plan made in 1886 by L J Watts)
48 The stone house at Foundry Yard during demolition, looking south
49 The stone house at Foundry Yard during demolition: east wall of basement
50 Basement of the stone house at Foundry Yard; painting by Mary Benham
51 Foundry Yard stone house
52 Pelham's Lane stone house
53 Stone houses in the town centre
54 Doorway leading to the upper chamber of the Moot Hall
55 A J Sprague's drawing of the window of the Moot Hall
56 A J Sprague's restoration of the Moot Hall window
57 The upper chamber of the Moot Hall
58 Exterior of the Moot Hall complex
59 Exterior of the Moot Hall complex
60 West window, Civray
61 West doorway, Rochester Cathedral
62 Stone buildings in the castle bailey (after Hull & Drury forthcoming)
63 The replanning of post-Roman Colchester
64 Evidence of planning at Winchester
65 Evidence of planning at London
66 Bronze mount from the castle bailey
67 Colchester keep
68 First common seal of the Borough of Colchester
69 The reverse of the great seal of the Borough of Colchester
vi
Introduction and acknowledgments concerned were Nina Crummy, Patrick Ottaway,
Rosemarie Johnson, and Pauline Meek. The above list
ought to be considerably longer than it is and I hope that
The series entitled Colchester Archaeological Reports is
those who have been omitted will bear with me until the
planned as a sequence of loosely-structured publications
definitive excavation reports are published when full
based on the various rescue excavations which took place
acknowledgments will be made. Thanks must also be
in Colchester during the 1970s. Most of the volumes will
extended to Mr D T-D Clarke, curator of the Colchester &
probably deal with only one subject regardless of site.
Essex Museum, for making available for study and
Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and Norman Colchester is the first of
publication the relevant archaeological and archival
these; others will include volumes devoted exclusively to
material in his care.
topics such as the Roman pottery, the Roman small finds,
I am indebted to all the contributors for generously
and the excavation of the Roman remains themselves.
devoting their time to writing reports for inclusion in this
The discovery at Lion Walk in 1972 of two Anglo-Saxon
study. I also owe much to the following people who have
huts, at least one of which was clearly of post-Roman date,
given me valuable assistance and guidance on certain
proved that Colchester was inhabited during the early
aspects: Miss Marion Archibald, Dr R Britnell, Mr P
Saxon period and thereby opened up a series of
Coverley, Mr P J Drury, Dr D B Harden, Major and Mrs
fundamental questions about Colchester in Saxon times.
A D Mansfield, Miss Margaret Wood, and Dr J N L
For example, what was the extent and character of this
Myres. Sections of the report have been read by Mr A F
early occupation and was it continuous throughout the
Borrie, Mr D T-D Clarke, Professor S S Frere, Dr D E
Saxon period? What was the nature of the later Danish
Greenway, Mr J Hurst, Professor G Martin, Dr D
presence in the town and how and when was Colchester
Stephenson, and Mr M C Wadhams; their helpful
replanned? Likewise the discovery at Lion Walk of a
comments are gratefully acknowledged. I am especially
Norman stone house demanded a review of what proved to
indebted to Mrs S C Hawkes, Mr A J Fleming, and Nina
be an extensive body of information about similar stone
Crummy for their help in this respect. Finally, thanks are
buildings elsewhere in the town, much of which was
due to Michael Short, who by his dogged persistence has
unpublished. These then were the principal stimuli
done much to convert the text into a typescript with a
behind the conception of Aspects of Anglo-Saxon and
semblance of order and consistency.
Norman Colchester.
The excavations and research were conducted on behalf of
The purpose of this study is thus twofold. It is intended the Colchester Archaeological Trust (formerly Colchester
firstly to present short reports of the more significant Excavation Committee) with the aid of grants from the
results of excavations between 1971 and 1977 which Department of the Environment, the Colchester Borough
concern Anglo-Saxon and Norman Colchester, and Council, the Pilgrim Trust, and Essex County Council.
secondly to publish, in most cases for the first time,
Finally readers are asked to note the following points.
material which is essential if the recent discoveries are to
Descriptions of illustrated objects not provided in the text
be seen in their proper perspective. The appendices
are listed in Appendix 6 and a plan of modern Colchester
contain notes on subjects which have only an indirect
showing the streets mentioned in the text is given as
bearing on the topics under discussion but are
Figure 1. Throughout the report all copper alloy objects
nevertheless still relevant.
are loosely described as bronze since it is not possible to
As the title implies, this book does not pretend to set out a analyse each piece. Apart from a few minor revisions, the
comprehensive description of the available evidence manuscript of this volume was completed in 1977. Details
relating to Anglo-Saxon and Norman Colchester. There of the excavations discussed here in broad outline will
are several subjects which could usefully have been dealt appear in subsequent volumes of this series.
with, such as St Botolph's Priory, the Colchester mint or a
study of church architecture in Colchester (although now
see Rodwell & Rodwell 1977). Probably the most
significant gap here is in historical research. Local records
in Colchester only survive for the most part from the 14th
century although many earlier references to Colchester are
contained in central government and other documents.
These not only cover the 13th century but in some cases
extend or refer back into the 12th century and represent a
pool of as yet untapped information about Norman
Colchester. The potential of this subject is illustrated by
Dr Stephenson's most interesting article in Chapter 2
which was a piece of research instigated primarily by the
excavations in the grounds of St John's Abbey described
in Chapter 4.
This study of Saxon and Norman Colchester would not
have been possible without the help and advice of many
people and to all concerned I extend my warmest thanks
and appreciation. I am especially grateful to the diggers
and site assistants, particularly the site supervisors, Geoff
Summers, Keith Jarvis, Tony Gould well, Nick Smith,
and Don Shimmin, for their labours on the sites chosen for
discussion here. The plans were prepared for publication
by R H Moyes with help from Peter Partner and were
based on site drawings by Howard Brooks, Stephanie
Hilton, Tony Gouldwell, and Ewan Campbell. The
photographs were taken by Alison Colchester and Jerry
Lockett. The finds assistants throughout the excavations
vii
Fig 1 Street map of Colchester (1971):
1 Balkeme Lane; 2 Head Street; 3 North Hill; 4 Bank Passage; 5 Nunn'sRoad; 6 Short Cut Road; 7 Northgate Street; 8 Stockwell; 9 West Stockwell
Street; 10 East Stockwell Street; 11 St Helen's Lane; 12 William's Walk; 13 Maidenburgh Street; 14 High Street; 15 Pelham's Lane; 16 Trinity Street;
17 Lion Walk; 18 Culver Street; 19 Shewell Road; 20 Long Wyre Street; 21 Queen Street; 22 Balkeme Passage; 23 Church Street; 24 Crouch Street; 25
Popes Lane; 26 Balkeme Hill; 27 Sheepen Road; 28 Middleborough; 29 North Station Road; 30 St Peter's Street; 31 George Street; 32 St Runwald's
Street; 33 Swan Passage; 34 Museum Street; 35 St Nicholas Street; 36 East Hill; 37 Priory Street; 38 Vineyard Street; 39 St John's Street; 40 Church
Walk; 41 Sir Isaac's Walk; 42 Eld Lane; 43 Short Wyre Street; 44 Butt Road; 45 Mersea Road; 46 Military Road; 47 Magdalen Street; 48 Cromwell
Road; 49 Fairfax Road; 50 Lucas Road; 51 Ryegate Road; 52 Castle Bailey; 53 Taylor Court; 54 Quakers Alley; 55 Ball Alley; 56 St Nicholas
Passage; 57 Castle Road; 58 Roman Road; 59 Cowdray Crescent; 60 Victoria Place; 61 Kingsway
viii
Chapter 1 Lion Walk site (Fig 2)
At Lion Walk, during the archaeological excavations of
1971-4, two sunken huts and over 100 sherds of early
The archaeological evidence: 5th to 9th
Saxon pottery were found. The distribution of the pottery
centuries * over the site was such that other buildings are likely to
have existed but no conclusive structural evidence of these
was discovered. For present purposes, only the two huts
and their associated finds will be described.
Hut 1 is remarkable in three respects: first, it provides
useful evidence about the superstructure of a sunken hut;
Summary
second, it would seem to represent a fine example of a
Evidence of occupation in Colchester from the 5th to the 9th centuries is
weaving shed; and third, it provides a particularly clear
provided by two sunken huts, up to 200 sherds of pottery, and over 60 other
objects mainly from Anglo-Saxon cemeteries. It is suggested that these indicate picture of the physical relationship between an
the end of Roman Colchester c 440-50 and a possible lull in the level of Anglo-Saxon hut and a derelict Roman house. Hut 2 is
occupation in the 8th and 9th centuries. significant as an example of a 5th century Anglo-Saxon hut
The body of the chapter consists of a catalogue setting out details of the situated within the walls of a Roman town. It seems to
post-Roman finds from Colchester dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries.
have been a different type of building from Hut 1.
Dealt with first are the only two known structures belonging to this period, viz
the two huts at Lion Walk; second are the other finds from inside the walled
area of the town (sites A to I, Fig 2); third are the finds from the cemetery areas Lion Walk: Hut 1, TL 99692507 (Figs 3 & 4)
(sites J to O, Fig 2); finally are the miscellaneous pieces including those for
The hut had been built up against the outside wall of a
which exact find spots are unknown. Included too are all the pieces of late
Roman military equipment from Colchester because, until a few years ago, Roman house and its floor dug through the stokehole of a
material of this kind was generally held to be potentially of great significance hypocaust full of fragments of roof tiles and lumps of
in late Roman contexts. (Since several of the Colchester pieces may have been
mortar which in many cases still retained the shapes of
lost or deposited in early Anglo-Saxon times, some of these finds would in any
case have had to be contained in the catalogue.) imbrices. The tiles and mortar lumps had clearly come
Fig 2 Colchester: 5th to 9th centuries
* 1995 edition footnote. A well-preserved 7th-century hut was found during the excavations at Culver Street in the 1980s. There was also some 6th- to
7th-century pottery associated with a probable Roman corn-drying oven. See Colchester Archaeological Report 6, 118-20 and 108-112 resp.
from the roof of the Roman building and indicate that, providing a neat, rectangular interior to the hut. The large
although some of the walls of the building were still number and widespread distribution of all stakes suggest
standing, the house was in a derelict condition when the that they could not have been contemporary and that their
Anglo-Saxon hut was built. replacement must have been frequent.
Only one of the hut's two principal postholes survived. The hardest part of the trampled floor stopped abruptly
The floor of the hut was flat, peppered with stakeholes, along the line of the shallow north-south groove RT (Fig
and retained a distinctive trampled surface of fine grit. In 3) and indicates the area of the hut which had been in most
addition to the stakeholes there were two irregular shallow use. Either the entrance to the hut had been due north of
grooves at right angles to one another (Fig 3, RT & UV), a this area or the trampled surface was linked with the use of
deep, roughly rectangular, short slot (F89), and several the vertical structure or structures associated with the
depressions or holes (F88, 85, 68, 67, 130, 129, & 69) north-south groove RT. No gap existed in the rows of
whose depths ranged from 100 to 400mm. Posthole F79 stakeholes lining the sunken floor unless there had been
was the only feature to have a post-pit. one which was destroyed by the later pit along the western
Many of the stakeholes around the outer edge of the hut wall. The stakes presumably were intended to retain the
occurred in pairs, whereas those within the hut either fell steep sides of the hollowed floor as well as to form the walls
into distinct groups or were distributed in an apparently of the hut, so that where necessary they could have been
random fashion. The easternmost line of stakes appears to cut off at threshold level to provide an entrance.
have run along the western side of the ridge post, thus Finds associated with the hut include a fragment of a
Fig 3 Hut I, Lion Walk
2